>>5347298Plopping two frosty mugs of ale and a glass of ice water in front of you with a wink, the bartender escapes to another end of the bar as you take your drink and clink it against Denise’s. So, you begin in a wary tone before taking a swig, what’s up?
Gulping down half the glass of water in one go, Denise adjusts her glasses a bit before giving you a determined sigh. “<span class="mu-i">I… I know you don’t like me very much, Stanley.</span>”
You blink in response. About time she noticed!
“<span class="mu-i">A-and I get it:</span>” She adds in a surprisingly confident tone! “<span class="mu-i">I don’t read the r-room well, I t-tend to grate on people’s nerves, a-and my healthcare providers tell me I have a tendency to be somewhat neurotic.</span>”
Wow, you retort, those degrees of theirs really pay for themselves, huh? Taking her mug in hand, Denise guzzles half of the booze in one swig before slamming it back onto the counter!
“<span class="mu-i">And t-truth be told, for a long t-time I DESPISED you, Stanley… when you ruined Chess Club for me, I added you to the list of names on my R-REVENGE LIST… r-right near the top, actually.</span>”
Finishing her beer like a pro, the dweeb gives you a long, hard stare through her pizza-sized spectacles. “<span class="mu-i">You… you did it all so EFFORTLESSLY, y-you know!? Playing Chess w-was the one thing my father and I h-had, a-and you just waltzed in and dashed everything I had w-worked for on the floor l-like a spilled plate of sp-sp-SPAGHETTI!</span>”
Sheesh, mean drunk, you mutter as the bar patrons around you start to stare. Okay, you nod, what’s her point here, exactly?
“<span class="mu-i">M-my point, Stan,</span>” Continues the dweeb as she flags down a bartender for a refill, “<span class="mu-i">I-Is that for a long t-time, THAT was my image of you… A d-destructive simpleton… a b-bully…</span>”
Receiving her second drink and taking another hearty sip, Denise lets out another long sigh before continuing. “<span class="mu-i">But w-when I met you again, y-you proved me wrong… y-you may be rough around the e-edges, Stanley, but behind that pr-prickly exterior is a genuinely caring a-and brave woman… one that didn’t j-just spare me in that h-horrible laboratory, b-but also t-took me along as an a-ally even when I didn’t deserve it…</span>”
A shaky, but genuine smile slowly forms on the girl’s face. “<span class="mu-i">So th-thank you, Stanley… for exceeding my expectations once again. A-and I know it’s t-tough–n-no one knows that better than I d-do–but I hope that o-once th-this is all over y-you’ll ch-change your m-mind about me… s-some day…</span>”
Giving your unfinished beer a polite clink, Denise finishes hers and gently pushes the empty mug over to the other side of the bar. “<span class="mu-i">Th-that’s enough b-booze f-for me, h-ha ha…</span>”
Well… you mutter as you raise your drink to your lips, <span class="mu-i">shit</span>...
>CONTD. 